Archive for July, 2012

From CNNMoney “Home prices hit a bottom and are finally bouncing back, according to an industry report released Tuesday.

Nationwide, home values rose 0.2% year-over-year to a median $149,300 during the second quarter, the first annual increase since 2007, real estate listing site Zillow reported. Prices were up 2.1% from the first quarter…”

City of Ames crews will continue to clear tree limbs from the public right of way (typically the area between the sidewalk and the street). To assist residents, the City has opened a drop-off site for tree limbs, branches, and vegetative debris from private property at the Parks and Recreation Maintenance Facility at 700 East 13th St. The site will be marked with a sign and open daylight hours through Sunday, Aug. 5. There will not be a curbside pickup for tree limbs.

Residents should contact their private garbage hauler for non-tree limb debris from the storm. To report tree limb damage on public property, contact the Public Works Department at (515) 239-5160.

Ames Electric Services customers should always call the power outage automated system at (515) 239-5240 when they experience an outage. Customers who rely on cell phones or cordless phones should call Customer Service at (515) 239-5120 during regular business hours to associate their cell phone number to their billing address. “

Solum is an agricultural technology company founded in California by a team of Stanford physics and engineering graduates. They recently opened a new laboratory in Ames, working with our company to lease and build out their commercial space.

Solum develops measurement systems and software products for farming applications. Their new laboratory will analyze soil samples and provide high-resolution detailed soil nutrient information for customers around the country. Their Ames location will employ around 25 people full-time and create up to 40 part-time or seasonal jobs.

Iowa continues to be named among lists of the best places to live. Gallup now predicts that Iowa and the upper Midwest will be the best region of the country to live in 20 years from now.

“Using metrics that include economic, workplace, community, and personal choice factors, Gallup found what will be the most livable U.S. region 20 years from now….

The West North Central region, which includes Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas, is the region poised for the brightest future. Workers in this area are most likely to be employed full time for an employer in the type of good jobs associated with high GDP. Residents have the highest economic confidence in the nation, setting the region up for a strong economic future. They are also the most likely to report easy access to clean, safe water, meaning that this region is best positioned to address one of the critical resource challenges of the future.”

Solum, Inc., a leader in advanced field measurement technology for commercial agriculture, is holding a career fair TODAY, July 18 at the Iowa State University Alumni Center for their new laboratory in Ames. The job fair will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Reiman South Ballroom at the ISU Alumni Center, 420 Beach Ave. Learn more about the jobs available here: www.desmoineshelpwanted.com.

“The decision to make Ames our choice for expansion was clear early in the process,” said Landon Morris, Solum Vice President of Business Development, in a release from the commission. “We have been working closely with ISU faculty for several years, and the Ames community has been extremely supportive.”

The Ames Rental Association is asking for help in locating vacant apartments for those who lost their homes yesterday. The 56 unit apartment building at South Meadow Apartments on South 5th in Ames appears to be a total loss.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire. However, there are not many rentals available in Ames at this time. If you have any rental property that is vacant or will be available for August 1st, please e-mail rentshriver@gmail.com.